Repro Roundup: Man accused of setting fire to a Planned Parenthood in Florida is charged

Welcome to my column, The Repro Roundup, in which I summarize abortion news happening around the country, why it matters, and what you can do about it — in 250 words or less.

What’s the issue? Last week, AP reported a man was charged after he set fire to a Planned Parenthood in Florida. According to the Sheriff’s office, he was charged with arson, criminal mischief, and using an incendiary device, after he was caught on tape pouring gasoline into bottles and throwing them at the Planned Parenthood. One of the bottles caught on fire but the extent of the damage hasn’t been disclosed.

Why does this matter? Planned Parenthood is the largest provider of abortion care in the country. For better or for worse, it carries enormous name recognition, even though only about 3% of all of it’s services are actually abortion care. Most Planned Parenthood offices do not provide abortion but rather provide STD/STI screenings, cancer screenings, gender-affirming care, breast cancer exams, sex education, and other health services, including to a large client base that is primarily low-income and women-of-color. With clinic violence on the rise, Planned Parenthoods like this one face enormous risk when domestic terrorists like this one choose to endanger the staff, patients, and volunteers that rely on the clinic.

What action can I take? I’ve discussed clinic violence frequently, but here are some of the biggest action items you can do:

• Subscribe to my 7-week email series about repro, which includes three relevant topics like clinic defense, clinic violence, and a deep dive into anti-abortion opposition.
• Read a recent Repro Roundup about a man convicted of bombing two clinics and murdering a clinic worker appealing his charges or read one about anti-choice protesters pepper-spraying pro-choicers
• Donate to the Tampa Bay Abortion Fund that provides a TON of services, including abortion funding, transportation, judicial bypass support, and much more. You can also clinic escort with them as well!
• Donate to the Clinic Vest Project, which provides clinic escorts with free safety vests and identifiers to wear when escorting patients outside of abortion clinics.
• Read the 2019 Violence and Disruption Statistics from the National Abortion Federation.
• Read the 2018 Clinic Violence Survey from the Feminist Majority Foundation.
• Read about the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act.
• Follow We Engage on social media to see what kinds of harassment clinics take on a daily basis.

• Subscribe to The Repro Queen of DC, my monthly newsletter on abortion access, activism, and writing on the frontlines of DC.
• Subscribe to Repro 101, a seven-week educational email series about all things repro. Topics include the basics of funding abortion, clinic escorting, anti-choice violence, and more.
• Read more of my work, browse the services I offer, and more.
• Follow me on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook or get in touch.